Tank connector

ABSTRACT

A panelized tank, and connectors and transport/stacking lugs therefor include a pair of mating connector halves, a first half with a pair of plates separated by a gap, a second half with a single plate fitting into the gap. Each connector half has openings that align with openings of the other connector half for use of a bolt or rod to further secure the panels together. Lugs are placed on the panels to assist in lifting and/or storage/transport/stacking of the panels.

RELATED APPLICATION

This Application is a Non-Provisional of U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/656,374, titled “TANK CONNECTOR,” filed Jun. 6, 2012, (Pending) which is commonly assigned and incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to panelized tanks and in particular the present disclosure relates to connectors for panels of large tanks.

BACKGROUND

Large panelized tanks can have large stresses applied thereto when assembled, Assembly of tanks requires in many instances specialized equipment simply to lift the large, heavy panels. Typical connectors for panels of panelized tanks use a loose connection system in which bosses are attached to and extend from panels, and a separate releasable plate that has openings fitting over the bosses. A hole in each boss allows a pin to be placed therethrough to loosely connect the panels using the bosses, separate plate, and pins.

For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an improved tank connector and transport/stacking efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of panels connected with a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a detailed elevation view of one half of a connector such as that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the connector half of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed elevation view of an other half of a connector such as that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the connector half of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a pair of connector halves joined to form a connector;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the pair of joined connector halves of FIG. 6

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a panel 100 of a tank according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Panel 100 comprises a wall portion 102, the wall portion having a first end 104 with a plurality of first mating connector portions 106 at the first end 104 of the wall portion 102, and second end 108 with a plurality of second mating connector portions 110 at the second end 108. The first mating connector portions 106 of the panel 100 may be used to join the panel 100 to an adjacent panel's (such as another panel 100) plurality of second mating connector portions 110.

A first mating connector portion 106 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. First mating connector portion 106 comprises a pair of plates 202 and 204 that are separated by a gap 206. The plates 202 and 204 have aligned openings 208 and 210, respectively. In one embodiment, there are two openings in each of plates 202 and 204. A plurality of pairs of plates 202 and 204 are in one embodiment attached to the end 104 of a panel such as panel 102, at various positions from the bottom of the panel to the top of the panel. Attachment may be made by any number of ways, including but not limited to welding, bolting, or the like.

A second mating connector portion 110 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. Second mating connector portion 110 comprises a single plate 402. The plate is sized in thickness so as to fit into a gap, such as gap 206, of a first mating connector portion such as portion 106. The plate 402 has openings 408 and 410 that align with openings 208 and 210 of plates 202 and 204 when the plate 402 is inserted into the gap 206 between plates 202 and 204. In one embodiment, the a plurality of plates 402 are attached to the end 108 of a panel such as panel 102, at various positions from the bottom of the panel to the top of the panel. Attachment may be made by any number of ways, including but not limited to welding, bolting, or the like. The connectors may also be referred to as halves, with one half being the first mating connector portion and the second half being the second mating connector portion.

In one embodiment, the plates 202, 204, and 402 are rounded in shape to assist in alignment when panels are to be joined.

Joining of the first mating connector portion 106 and the second mating connector portion 110 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows an elevation view of the second mating connector portion 110 having its plate 402 inserted between the plates 402 and 404 of first mating connector portion 106. The openings 208 and 408 are aligned, as well as the openings 210 and 410. When the openings are aligned, a bolt or the like 602 is inserted into the aligned openings, securing first mating connector portion 106 to second mating connector portion 110. This secures adjacent panels such as panels 100 together. In one embodiment, the thickness of the single plate of each second mating connector portion is greater than the thickness of the plates of the first mating connector portion.

In operation, panels such as panel 102 are aligned end to end, so that an end having a first mating connector portion aligns with an end of an adjacent panel having a second mating connector portion. The holes in the plates of the connector portions are aligned, with the single plate connector portion having its plate between the plates of the double plate connector portion. When the holes are aligned, a bolt or the like is inserted to secure the panels together.

In another embodiment, a panel such as panel 102 may have a plurality of carry/hoist/stack/transport lugs affixed thereto, to aid in transport, stacking and the like of one or more panels. The lugs are used in one embodiment to assist in stacking or transport to reduce the potential for damage during those actions. Each panel has a plurality of lugs affixed or attached thereto at various points on the panel. The lugs serve multiple purposes, including as lifting points and as spacers for stacking and/or transport. Referring back to FIG. 1, a plurality of lugs 150 are shown. In one embodiment, there are six lugs 150 spaced on the panel. Referring to FIG. 1, lugs 150 can be seen at the top 152 and bottom 154 of the panel 102. It should be understood that the lugs 150 may be positioned on a panel 102 so as to allow for lifting and/or stacking, and that therefore, the positions shown in the figure may be different without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In one embodiment, the lugs 150 are rectangular and thick enough to support a lifting of an entire panel by a single plate. The lugs 150 may have, in one embodiment, an opening or a through-hole for a lifting hook or other shackle.

Claim 1. A connector for a tank, comprising a pair of mating connector halves, a first half having a pair of plates separated by a gap, and a second half having a single plate sized so as to fit the gap; each half having at least one opening therein, the at least one opening of the first half pair of plates matching the at least one opening in the second half plate. Claim 2. The connector of claim 1, and further comprising a connector rod that extends through the matched openings. 3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the connector rod comprises a bolt. 4. The connector of claim 2, wherein the connector rod comprises a bolt.

Claim 5. A tank panel, comprising a wall portion; a first mating connector portion at a first end of the wall portion, the first mating connector portion comprising a pair of mating connector halves, a first half having a pair of plates separated by a gap; and a second mating connector portion at a second end of the wall portion, the second half having a single plate sized so as to fit the gap. Claim 6. The tank panel of claim 5, wherein adjacent tank panels are connected when the first mating connector portion of a first panel is connected to a second mating connector portion of a second panel.

Claim 7. A method of connecting panels of a tank together, comprising joining a first mating connector portion of a first panel with a second mating connector portion of a second panel, wherein the first mating connector portion comprises a pair of places separated by a gap, and wherein the second mating connector portion comprises a single plate sized to fit the gap. Claim 8. The method of claim 7, and further comprising connecting the first panel and the second panel by inserting a locking rod into aligned holes of the first mating connector portion and the second mating connector portion when the first mating connector portion and the second mating connector portion are aligned. The method of claim 8, wherein inserting a locking rod comprises inserting a bolt. The method of claim 8, wherein inserting a locking rod comprises inserting a bolt and locking it in place with a cotter pin.

Claim 11. A tank, comprising a plurality of tank panels connected together, each tank panel comprising a wall portion; a first mating connector portion at a first end of the wall portion, the first mating connector portion comprising a pair of mating connector halves, a first half having a pair of plates separated by a gap; and a second mating connector portion at a second end of the wall portion, the second half having a single plate sized so as to fit the gap.

Conclusion

A tank connector, tank panels, and stacking/transport aids have been described that include a panel with a first connector portion with two plates, a second connector portion with one plate fitting between a gap in the two plates of the first connector portion, and openings in the plates for securing the plates together with a bolt or rod. Lugs for lifting and/or staking/transport are positioned on the panel so as to aid in lifting panels, and to aid in load spreading for stacking and/or transport of panels.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. 

1. A connector for a tank, comprising: a pair of mating connector halves, a first half having a pair of plates separated by a gap, and a second half having a single plate sized so as to fit the gap; each half having at least two openings therein, the at least two openings of the first half pair of plates matching the at least two openings in the second half plate.
 2. The connector of claim 1, and further comprising a connector rod that extends through the matched openings.
 3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the connector rod comprises a bolt.
 4. (canceled)
 4. A tank panel, comprising: a wall portion; a first mating connector portion at a first end of the wall portion, the first mating connector portion comprising a pair of mating connector halves, a first half having a pair of plates separated by a gap; and a second mating connector portion at a second end of the wall portion, the second half having a single plate sized so as to fit the gap.
 5. The tank panel of claim 4, wherein adjacent tank panels are connected when the first mating connector portion of a first panel is connected to a second mating connector portion of a second panel.
 6. A method of connecting panels of a tank together, comprising: joining a first mating connector portion of a first panel with a second mating connector portion of a second panel, wherein the first mating connector portion comprises a pair of places separated by a gap, and wherein the second mating connector portion comprises a single plate sized to fit the gap.
 7. The method of claim 6, and further comprising: connecting the first panel and the second panel by inserting a locking rod into aligned holes of the first mating connector portion and the second mating connector portion when the first mating connector portion and the second mating connector portion are aligned.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein inserting a locking rod comprises inserting a bolt.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein inserting a locking rod comprises inserting a bolt and locking it in place with a cotter pin. 